Looking out at my patio through the front door.

I am in the process of creating a front yard patio. I dug out an area and leveled it and hauled sand and leveled it again. I picked out the brick design I wanted and lifted and strong-armed the blocks into place. I hauled wheel barrow loads of dirt to build a small mound to encircle the patio and planted flowers and ferns and hostas and a hydrangea. I have hunted, dug up and maneuvered rocks into paths around the patio. My sweet husband indulged me and let me buy an arch and gate, a matching post with double hooks for hanging flowers and wind chimes, and smaller arches to complete the look. He even found a table and chairs at a garage sale. The patio sits just outside our front porch…a lovely sight to look out upon.

Yesterday, when I pulled maple seedlings and weeds from the moss beds that surround the patio, and dug up and transplanted sedum around the edges, I thought, Why am I working so hard on this? Am I just wasting my time? I still have lots of flowers to buy and then plant around the mound. I still have to finish the brick edging and the small fireplace insert at one edge. I need to buy clematis vines to grow up over the arch. All for what?? We seldom get time just to sit and enjoy it.

I pulled another seedling and brushed my hand over the lush carpet of moss with its tiny fern-like leaves, shimmering in the dappled sunlight, and I realized something very amazing–I was doing it all for my pleasure.

For my pleasure. The Lord then spoke to my heart and showed me that it is the same feeling He gets from looking out over all His handiwork in the heavens. People say, “if there are no other inhabitants out there among the stars and planets, it seems like an awful waste of space.”

“Not so,” says the Lord. “I created it for My pleasure.” Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Have you ever looked at the heavens and marveled at the majestic beauty and wonder of it all? It brings even more enjoyment to the Lord. He created it for His pleasure. Man can waste his time and money searching for answers, but the truth is, God created everything for His pleasure. Period. That includes you and me! (Thank you, Andrea, for pointing that out)

Just as I hope others find my patio sanctuary a lovely and inspiring place, I believe the Lord feels the same way about His handiwork. And if they don’t, it doesn’t matter–what He and I have created brings us pleasure!

What a freeing thought!